Cracked Pepper: 33 Recipes for Hot Summer Days

Friday, July 11, 2014

Slow Cooker Indonesian Brown Sugar Chicken

Last Year's Post: Shrimp Fried Rice
Two Years Ago: Farm Stand Salad

I had an inspiration a few months ago when I was browsing food websites and came across a compilation of slow cooker recipes for summer. The author explained that the slow cooker is great for summertime meals because it doesn't heat up your house and you don't have to go outside to grill when it's really too hot even for diehards like The Lawyer. That made sense to me, but the key seemed to be selecting slow cooker meals that were lighter than, say, your favorite tailgating chili recipe or a big old meatloaf. Summer slow cooker recipes should (in my humble opinion) be reasonably light and able to be eaten not only as-they-are, straight out of the cooker, but also as an ingredients in the foods of summer like tacos, sandwiches or salads. Having given myself those criteria as my marching orders, I spent the next few months trying recipes to come up with a list, albeit short, of slow cooker recipes for summer.

And while I was at it, I wanted to add a list of other salads, entrees and sandwiches that I've posted previously that are particularly appropriate for the hottest days where you can do what little cooking that might be needed:
a)in advance (earlier in the day or week before it gets bad)
b) in a small appliance that doesn't heat the house (like a panini press), or
c)not at all.

I hope you find something you want to try, and stay cool!

Abbreviations:
NCR = no cooking required
IA = cook in advance
SA = cook in small appliance

Slow Cooker
Char Siu Chicken
Turkey and Gruyere French Dip
Slow Cooker Indonesian Brown Sugar Chicken (Pictured above)

Slow Cooker Lemon Pepper Chicken